ROCKPORT, ME -- The Pine Tree Vending Association will host this year's annual combined spring meeting of the six New England state vending associations. The confab will take place from June 15 from 17 (Friday through Sunday) at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, ME, which has been a popular venue for previous meetings.

Organizers report that the joint New England spring meeting has sold out every year, with approximately 200 industry members and their families attending.

The six New England trade groups, which are state councils of the National Automatic Merchandising Association (Chicago), are the New Hampshire Vending Association, Massachusetts Vending Association, Pine Tree Vending Association, Connecticut Vending Association, Rhode Island Vending Association and Vermont Vending Association.

A host of family-friendly recreational and social activities are on tap for Friday and Saturday, providing a relaxed atmosphere for industry members and their families to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. Highlights include a winery tour, golf scramble, harbor cruise, barbeque, dinner gala, cocktail reception, dancing, comedy show and children's activities.

Business tops Sunday's agenda with a morning membership meeting at which each of the state council presidents will discuss the legislative issues impacting the vending business their states. National Automatic Merchandising Association executive vice-president and chief operating officer Dan Mathews will provide a federal legislative update and brief members on the vending association's latest initiatives.

Registration costs $150 per adult and $100 for children 4 to 16 years old; kids 3 and under are free. Contact Bud Willey, vice-president of the Pine Tree Vending Association at budwilley@canteenmaine.com.

For room reservations, call The Samoset at (800) 341-1650 and mention the Pine Tree Vending Association for a discount.